Expanding and flanging tool.



PATENTEDY JULY 21, 1903.

L. n. LOVBKIN. V EXPANDING AND FLANGING TOOL.

. w ya a $3 fr 4 TNMNW Q n w X m\\ a 1 Hm; M 2 m 1 4 4'1 WITNELESESL PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

L. D. LOVEKIN. EXPANDING AND FLANGING TOOL.

PPPP IOATION FILED MAR. 28, 1902.

\NITNESSEEH PATENTED JULY 21, 1903.

L. D. LOVEKIN. EXPANDING AND FLANGING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28. 1902.

N a SHEETS-SHEET a.

N0 MODEL.

NVENTDH:

\MTNEEEES: 2%?

Patented July 21, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE;

LUTHER D. LO VEKIN, OF PHILADELFHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

, EXPANDING A ND FLANGING TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,27 1 dated July 21, 1903. Application filed March 28, 1902 Serial Ila/100,351, (No modelf.

The object of my invention is the provision of a simple and efficient toolcapable of being easily and expeditiously handled to expand and flange the ends of pipes or tubes of sheetmetal and more especially those of comparatively small diameters. r

My invention is more particularly an improvementupon' the type of fianging machine set out in Letters Patent to me, No. 682,726, dated September 17, 1901, and is distinguished therefrom principally in expanding-rollers and the manner of supporting and operating them.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable mandrel adapted to be operated in any convenient manner, the lower end of which is furnished with expanding-rollers, which are preferably made slightly tapering. \Vithin the mandrel I arrange a follower carrying upon its lower end a tapered roller adapted to press upon the expanding-rollers for the purpose of causing them to spread as the work may require and also to reduce their resistance to rotation upon their own axes. This tapered follower-roller is, moreover, supported by the follower-shaft in such a manner that its end thrust is taken up by antifriction devices. The'structure is designed to secure the desired results with the least expenditure of power and also with the simplest practicable construction of the operative parts making up the organized tool. The mandrel is further provided with hanging-rollers lo cated upon its outer surface at a considerable distance from its end, for the purpose of fianging the free edges of the expanded tube end, and thereby secure it in position Within a pipe-flange. The follower is arranged to be fed gradually in a longitudinal direction through the mandrel'to shift the position of the follower-roller relatively to the expanding-rollers, and its movement may be secured and regulated by hand manipulation, as

- pointed out hereinafter.

The details of construction will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an expanding and fianging tool embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on line 2 2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking up ward. Fig. 4 is an end view of the roller end of the mandrel. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a pipe and flange before the pipe is expanded or flanged. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the pipe expanded within the flange and also showing the lower end of the expanding-tool; and Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the pipe both expanded and flanged.

2 is the mandrel and is in the main a cylindrical body, hollow or tubular on the lower part, as at 7, and having its upper portion terminating in a tapered shank, and flattened end adapted to be received and held in the tail-stock of a turret-lathe or other tool suitable for the purpose of supporting it. The particular shape of the shank is immaterial and would be made to suit the tool available. The middle portion of the mandrel is slotted, as at 13, and the upper portion of its body immediately above the slot is screw threaded and provided with a nut 17. A controller-ring 15, provided with suitable handles or parts for the operator to grasp, is loosely sleeved over the mandrel-body and journaled in bearings 16 on the mandrel and 18 in the nut 17. In this manner the controller-ring may be freely rotated, for purposes to be set out later on. The mandrelbody is to be bored through almost to the shank and is fitted with a vertically-adjustable follower-shaft 8, having at its upper end a transverse key 20, whichis guided in'the vertical slots 13 of the mandrel, so as to prevent it from turning, the ends of said key projecting beyond the -mandrelbody and connecting with the controller-ring by screwthreads upon its outer ends engaging inter nal screw-threads 19 on the internal face of the ring. It will now be seen that by turn ing the controller-ring while the mandrel is stationary the follower-shaft will be caused to move longitudinally through the mandrel.

The lower end of the follower-shaft 8 is reduced in diameter to form a spindle, as at 9, and is extended downward into the space 7 of the mandrel. This reduced portion constitutes a spindle upon which is loosely sleeved a conical or tapering roller 10, the taper of which is downward or toward the end of the mandrel. Then this roller is retracted within the space 7, it is practically inelosed within the mandrel. It maybe removed from the spindle when necessary by removing a nut 12 on the end of the spindle, and which normally holds the tapering roller upon the spindle. As this roller 10 is subjected to heavy strain in an upward direction, I find it most important to provide means to take this thrust with the least possible liability of wear from friction. To this end I provide the follower with a series of antifriction-rin gs ll of a diameter preferably equal to the diameter of the larger or body portion of the follower and encircling the spindle 9 thereof, so as to be interposed between the end of the large portion 8 of the follower and the end of the roller 10.

The lower end of the mandrel is provided with exanding-rollers 3, preferably three in number, said rollers being tapering with the taper directed upward. They are also provided with journals 4, guided in radial bearings 5 and 6, formed in the wall of the mandrel and respectively above and below openings or apertures, through which the body of the rollers 23 extend, the same touching the tapered roller 10 on their inner faces and having their outer faces projected beyond the outer surface of the mandrel. These radial bearings 5 and 6, or at least one of them, open inwardly, so as to permit the flanging-rollers 3 to be placed in position from the inside of the mandrel and before the roller 10 of the follower is placed upon the spindle 9. As the taper on the rollers 3 is inversely that upon the follower-roller 10, it is evident that as the former roll upon the latter in the expanding operation, the outer or active faces or expanding surfaces are parallel to the axis of the follower, and consequentlythe expanded tube or pipe will retain a cylindrical shape during the expanding operation and at its completion. It is preferable that there shall be some play between the roller 10 and its spindle 9 to allow the roller to adjust itself to the rollers 3 and the tube should the spindle not be in true center of the tube, it not being neces sary to have a close fitof the roller 10 upon its spindle to secure good expanding results. The hollow end or space of the mandrel is considerably deeper than the length of the flanging-rollers 3, so as to provide space for the reception of the follower-roller 10 when retracted above said expanding-rollers, as shown in Fig. 1. The rollers 3 are held in position within the mandrel by the tapering follower-roller 10, thus simplifying the construction as far as possible.

At some distance above the rollers 3 the outer portion of the mandrel 2 is provided with an annular boss 25, which is perforated and recessed at preferably three places equidistant about the mandrel and desirably above or in longitudinal alinement with the expanding-rollers 3. Into the boss above each of the recessed portions is screwed bearing-bushing 2i. J ournaled at 23 in each of the bearingbushings is the spindle of the flanging-roller 21, the lower journal 22 of which is fitted in the mandrel-body, as clearly shown. In this manner the flanging-roller is adapted to rotate on an oblique axis and the three flangingrollers in effect have their axes radiate from the same point of the axis of the mandrel. However, this is only necessary when the several fianging rollers are of the same size and shape. To reduce the friction, these rollers 21 rest upon roller-bearings 26, arranged between their upper portion and the under surface of the bearing-bushing 2i. The outer or flanging surface of these rollers 21 is curved longitudinally of the roller, so as to cause the metal of the tube to be flanged in the form of a curved surface, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. Vhile Iprefer this type of flanging-roller, I do not confine myself thereto, as the flanging may be done in other shapes to suit the character of the work to be performed.

To show the adaptability of my improved tool, I will now refer to Figs. 5, 6, and '7. In Fig. 5 is shown the end of the pipe or tube 27 to be expanded or flanged in the ring or flange 28. This flange is properly turned and formed with the annular recess 30, which is curved and of a depth approximately equal to the thickness of the -metal of the tube 27. These parts are clamped in the face-plate of the lathe and adapted to be rotated. The end of the mandrel 2 is then inserted into the tube, and while the latter rotates the controllerring 15 is turned by hand, with'the object of moving the follower and its roller 10 toward the tube and the expanding-rollers 3 within it. The result of this is that the metal of the tube 27 is expanded to fit tightly into the bore of the flange 28, as shown in Fig. 0. In this operation the rollers rotate by frictional contact with the pipe or tube 27, and their rotation is permitted with but little friction, because of the freedom to rotation of the roller 10 of the follower, first, because it is loosely journaled upon spindle 9, and, secondly, because of the use of the antifriction rings or collars 11. WVhen the expansion of the tube has been completed, the controllerring is rotated in a reverse direction-and the pressure by the rollers 3 relieved. The mandrel is then advanced within the tube and guided thereby until the flanging-rollers 21 touch the outwardly-extending edge of the tube. The tail-stock and tool are then moved gradually toward the tube and flange 28 and the result is that the rollers 21'gradually flange outwardly, the edge of the tube, as

shown in Fig. 7, causing it to fit tightly down into the recess 30 of the flange-ring.

Now while I have described my invention as adapted to be used in a lathe of the turret or other suitable type, it is to be understood that the same results can be secured by revolving the tool and holding the pipe or tube stationary, orboth may have rotary motion given to them. My invention is independent of the particular means employed for holding the tool and is not to be restricted thereby.

Any matters shown and not claimed in this application form subject-matter of my other applications, Serial'Nos. 100,353, 100,351, and 100,355, filed March 28, 1902.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.. In a tool for expanding and flanging pipe, the combination of a mandrel having a tubular end, a series of expanding-rollers carried by the tubular end of the mandrel and movable to and from each other, a central roller within the tubular mandrel and against which the expanding-rollers rest and upon which they revolve when doing their work of expanding the tube, a central support for the central roller for supporting it within the mandrel but out of contact with its interior walls, and one or more flanging-rollers having longitudinal curved surfaces journaled upon the mandrel at considerable distance from its end so as to be out of transverse alinement with the expanding-rollers.

2. In a tool for expanding tubes, the combination of a mandrel adapted to be held when using the tool, expanding-rollers carried by the mandrel and adapted to project beyond the outer surface thereof, a longitudinallyadjustable follower carried by the mandrel having a spindle provided with a shoulder, a tapering roller journaled upon the spindle of the follower and moved thereby and adapted to receive the thrust of the expanding-rollers when in act of expanding the tube, antifriction-bearings between the end of the follower-roller and the shoulder of the follower-spin dle, and means to move the follower longitudinally through the-mandrel.

3. In a tool for expanding tubes, the combination of a mandrel adapted to be held when using the tool, expanding-rollers carried by the mandrel and adapted to project beyond the outer surface thereof, a longitudinally-adjustablefollower carried by the mandrel having a spindle provided with a shoulder, a tapering roller j ournaled upon the spindle of the follower and moved thereby and adapted to receive the thrust of the expanding-rollers when in act of expanding the tube, antifriction-bearings between the end of the follower-roller and the shoulder of the follower-spindle consisting of a'series of rings or collars resting upon each other, and means to move the follower longitudinally through the mandrel.

4. In a tool for expanding tubes, the combination of a mandrel having a shank adapted to be held when using the tool and its expanding end made hollow to form a chamber, expanding-rollers carried by the mandrel and adapted to project beyond the outer surface and also into the hollow chamber thereof, a longitudinally-adjustable follower carried by the mandrel of smaller diameter than the hollow chamber and snugly fitting the mandrel and also held against rotation within it, a tapering roller journaled upon the follower and-moved thereby and adapted to receive the thrust of the expanding-rollers when in the act of expanding, and one or more flanging-rollers having longitudinal curved surfaces journaled upon the mandrel at considerable distance from its end so as to be out of transverse alinement with the expandingrollers.

5. In a tool for expanding tubes, the combination of a mandrel adapted to be held when using the tool, expanding-rollers carried by the mandrel and adapted to project beyond the outer surface thereof, a longitudinally-adjustable follower carried by the mandrel having a spindle provided with a shoulder, a taperin g roller j ournaled upon the spindle of the follower and moved thereby and adapted to receive the thrust of the expanding-rollers when in act of expanding the tube, antifriction-bearings between the end of the followerroller and the shoulder of the follower-spindle consisting of a'series of rings or collars resting upon each other, means to move the follower longitudinally through the mandrel, and one or more flanging-rollers having longitudinal curved surfaces journaled upon the mandrel at considerable distance from its .end so as to be out of transverse alinement with the expanding-rollers.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

L. n. LOVEKIN. I

W'itnesses R. M. HUNTER,

GEORGE H. EIMERT. 

